Virginia Politics Blog Archive: Caitlin Gibson

A petition to move Leesburg's town elections from May to November was signed by more than 2,500 voters and delivered to the Clerk of the Circuit Court on Monday, according to Leesburg Town Council member Kenneth "Ken" Reid and resident Barbara Bayles-Roberts, who is leading the petition effort. The petition was signed by more than 10 percent of registered Leesburg voters -- about 2,500 -- the minimum required for a voter referendum on the proposal in November. The question of whether to move town elections was first raised in fall 2009, when the county electoral board sent a memo to Leesburg and other Virginia municipalities stating that costs could be cut by moving the election date. The electoral board estimated in August that by cutting the costs of hiring polling staff and creating separate ballots, Leesburg could save about $17,000 every two years if it made the switch, according to...

After years of discussion and debate, the Loudoun Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to approve proposed amendments to the county's sign ordinance that aim to encourage the growth and competitive ability of local businesses. The approved amendments will simplify the existing regulations, allowing certain signs to be erected without review and streamlining the process for sign exceptions that require special approval. The county's prohibition of billboards and other temporary roadside signs will remain intact. The amendments, which take effect March 1, also include related amendments to the schedule of fees for land development applications and the addition of standards for directional signs used for religious and civic purposes....

Loudoun County Supervisor Eugene A. Delgaudio (R-Sterling) once again ignited the blogosphere Friday with online musings about the "Radical Homosexual" infiltration of an annual pirate festival in Tampa. The Gasparilla Pirate Fest, an annual event for more than 100 years in the Tampa Bay area, features a parade, fireworks, games, activities, a pirate ship and hundreds of people in costumes reenacting a supposed historic pirate invasion of Tampa. Delgaudio, who has a long history of public commentary decrying homosexuality, wrote on the Inquisition News site that the event has been transformed in recent years into "a two week alcohol fueled display of public debauchery," where organized events "are designed to prey upon unsuspecting college students." He continued, "When the young men are sufficiently intoxicated, homosexuals dressed as pirates whisk them away to God knows where to take advantage of them sexually. There are even countless stories of any number of...

The Loudoun board of supervisors voted Wednesday to oppose a bill proposed by state Del. James M. LeMunyon (R) that would require the advance approval of Fairfax and Loudoun county government before instituting toll increases on the Dulles Toll Road and the Dulles Greenway. In a 7-1-1 vote, the board refused to support House Bill 1359, citing concerns that the measure would jeopardize the financing for the Dulles Metrorail extension. Supervisor Eugene Delgaudio (R-Sterling) cast the lone vote in support of the bill, which was referred to the state Committee on Transportation on Dec. 30 . LeMunyon proposed the bill to prevent the Dulles Metrorail project from relying too heavily on revenues generated by toll road users, who he believes are bearing too much of the financial burden....

After public pressure to return a $15,000 campaign contribution made by former Loudoun restaurateur and convicted felon Osama M. El-Atari, Loudoun Sheriff Steve Simpson made 15 donations of $1,000 each to local nonprofit organizations in December, according to a campaign finance report released Tuesday.